Temporary license plates and trip permits by state
A temporary license plate, or temp tag, lets you legally drive a vehicle that is not permanently registered yet, while you wait for plates, move a car, or finish a title. Here is what the different permits are, how to get one, how long they last, and what they cost, with the rules for your state.
What a temp tag is, and when you need one
A temporary license plate, often called a temp tag, is a short-term permit that lets you drive a vehicle before its permanent plates are issued. It is not a registration in itself. It is a bridge that keeps you legal on the road for a set number of days until the real plates and registration are sorted out.
The main types of temporary tag
- Dealer temporary tag. Issued by a dealer when you buy, to cover the gap until your plates arrive. Some states have switched to issuing metal plates at the sale instead.
- Temporary registration or operating permit. Issued by the state when your registration fees are paid but the plates or sticker have not arrived.
- In-transit or trip permit. Lets you drive an unregistered vehicle for a single purpose, such as moving it to another state or driving a private-sale car home to register it.
- Drive-out or buyer tag. A short permit to drive a newly bought car off the lot or across a state line.
How to get a temporary license plate
It depends on how you got the car:
- From a dealer: the dealer issues the temporary tag or metal plates as part of the sale. You do not need to do anything separately.
- From a private seller: you get the permit yourself. Take the signed title and bill of sale to the DMV or county office, or apply online where the state allows it, and buy a temporary registration or transit permit.
- Moving a car, or driving it home: buy a trip or in-transit permit for that one journey.
- Plates delayed: ask the DMV for a temporary operating permit once your fees are paid.
How long a temporary tag lasts and what it costs
Temporary tags run from as little as 72 hours to as long as 90 days, with 30 days the most common. Cost is often nothing from a dealer, and a small fee from the state: New York charges $12.50 for a 30-day in-transit permit and Wisconsin $3 for a temporary plate. Driving on an expired temporary tag is treated the same as having no plates, so register before it runs out.
Temporary tag rules by state
| State | What it is called | How long | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Alabama DOR |
| Alaska | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Alaska DMV |
| Arizona | Temporary Registration Plate (TRP) | Restricted-use permits of 3 or 30 days; a dealer TRP covers the gap after purchase | A licensed dealer, or Arizona MVD (ServiceArizona) |
| Arkansas | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Arkansas DFA |
| California | Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) or dealer temporary plate | Until your plates or registration sticker arrive | A dealer at purchase, or the California DMV |
| Colorado | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Colorado DMV |
| Connecticut | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Connecticut DMV |
| Delaware | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Delaware DMV |
| District of Columbia | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | DC DMV |
| Florida | Temporary license plate (temp tag) | 10, 30, or 90 days, depending on the reason it is issued | A licensed dealer at purchase, or a county tax collector |
| Georgia | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Georgia DOR |
| Hawaii | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Hawaii DMV |
| Idaho | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Idaho DMV |
| Illinois | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Illinois SOS |
| Indiana | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Indiana BMV |
| Iowa | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Iowa DOT |
| Kansas | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Kansas DOV |
| Kentucky | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |
| Louisiana | Temporary tag | Short term | A licensed dealer (the OMV sells the tags to dealers) |
| Maine | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Maine BMV |
| Maryland | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Maryland MVA |
| Massachusetts | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Massachusetts RMV |
| Michigan | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Michigan SOS |
| Minnesota | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Minnesota DVS |
| Mississippi | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Mississippi DOR |
| Missouri | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Missouri DOR |
| Montana | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Montana MVD |
| Nebraska | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Nebraska DMV |
| Nevada | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Nevada DMV |
| New Hampshire | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | NH DMV |
| New Jersey | Temporary vehicle tag | Short term | New Jersey MVC (online) |
| New Mexico | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | New Mexico MVD |
| New York | In-Transit Permit | 30 days | NY DMV |
| North Carolina | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | NCDMV |
| North Dakota | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | NDDOT |
| Ohio | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Ohio BMV |
| Oklahoma | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Service Oklahoma |
| Oregon | Trip permit | 21 days for a car (a recreational-vehicle permit runs 1 to 10 days) | Oregon DMV |
| Pennsylvania | Temporary registration plate | Commonly up to 90 days | An authorized tag service or messenger, or a dealer |
| Rhode Island | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Rhode Island DMV |
| South Carolina | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | SCDMV |
| South Dakota | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | South Dakota DOR |
| Tennessee | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Tennessee Revenue |
| Texas | 30-Day Permit | Up to 30 days (72-hour and 144-hour permits also exist) | County tax office, or a dealer at purchase |
| Utah | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Utah DMV |
| Vermont | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Vermont DMV |
| Virginia | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Virginia DMV |
| Washington | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | Washington DOL |
| West Virginia | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | West Virginia DMV |
| Wisconsin | Temporary plate | Short term, while permanent plates are pending | Wisconsin DOT (Form MV2505) |
| Wyoming | Varies by situation | See the state DMV | WYDOT |
Where a state is not yet detailed, the link goes to that state's motor vehicle agency, which lists its own temporary-tag rules and fee.
Common questions about temporary tags
How do I get a temporary license plate when buying from a private seller?
You usually get it yourself rather than from the seller. In most states you take the signed title and a bill of sale to the DMV or county office and buy a temporary registration or transit permit so you can drive the car home and to an inspection. A few states let you apply online. The private seller cannot issue a tag; only a dealer or the state can.
Can I drive a car I just bought without plates?
Only with a valid temporary tag or permit, and usually only for a short window. Driving with no plates and no permit is a ticketable offense everywhere. If you bought from a dealer, the dealer normally gives you a temporary plate or metal plates at the sale. If you bought private, get a temporary permit from the state before you drive it far.
Can you get a temporary license plate online?
In some states, yes. Oregon (DMV2U), New Jersey and Arizona, among others, let you buy a temporary permit online and print it at home. Many states still issue them in person at a DMV or county office, or through a licensed dealer. Your state row above links to the agency that handles it.
How long does a temporary tag last?
It depends on the state and the reason it was issued, from as little as 72 hours up to 90 days. Thirty days is the most common. A dealer tag covers the gap until your permanent plates arrive; a trip or in-transit permit is for a single move or drive. Driving on an expired temporary tag is treated the same as having no plates.
How much does a temporary tag cost?
Often nothing when a dealer issues one with a purchase. When the state issues a permit it is usually a small fee: New York charges $12.50 for a 30-day in-transit permit and Wisconsin $3 for a temporary plate, for example. The exact amount is set by each state, linked in the table above.